So this pass friday i hear that whining noise from my engine so i'm thinking it needs power steering fluid but it shouldnt. so i go and check sure enough it does need it, so i re-fill it and its all good so i thought. Today i here that same noise again so i'm like nah it can't be again, so i pop the hood and the S#$@ is all over the place!

Any ideas on how to find the leak?

 

Check You Pressure Wire. I jsut got that fixed yesterday. EXACT same situation here...

 

Leaky power steering hoses are common for our cars. Start with the high pressure 1st. The return hose may be leaking as well.

 

Just like anything else, clean it up and look for the source

Have you actually looked for the source of the leak yet, or...?

 

I looked but couldnt see anything obvious. gonna have to give it a better look see when i have the time.

 

ive replaced my power steering pump and hoses twice already. good luck fixing it permanently. i love our 5.5s, but some of these design flaws are mildly annoying.

that our i just installed the pump wrong lol. i'd just replace all the hoses if i were you. shouldn't be too much of a job and thats cheap to do.

 

Yeah but im still in the learning fazes. i had my max only a year and 3 months and so far spent $4,000 on repairs taking it to a shop, the good thing is all the parts that they have put on are under warranty by them. however i am still making payments on the car and im thinking of maybe trying to get rid of it.......

 

The high pressure hose usually has a rubber heat shield around it, which sometimes hides any evidence of leaks. Try peeling it back and further inspecting the hose.

 

The rubber cover over the hose will move pretty freely after it's soaked pretty well with PS fluid. Then with the cover out of the way, wipe the hose clean, fill the system, have someone start the car, turn the wheel either direction and look for leaks. Pray it's NOT the hose leaking, cuz the banjo bolt at the bottom is a royal pain.

I usually do the hard bolts first, but if you do the banjo bolt first you won't have much success getting the bracket attached to the engine. The top assy is cinch.

 

Hell you have $4000 in it already, minus whale keep it now. No point in investing that kind of money into something and not keeping it.

 

Err...'might as well'?

 

Bwahahah WIN!

 

Ive had my Max for about 6 months and ive dumped a **** load of money into this boat. Every week i get a suprise... last week was alternator, this week the trailer arm bushings are leaking. This car is a money pit... my 98 max never had any problems.

 

Agree... I guess some people have better luck than others. It's just a risk we take when we buy used vehicles. We "minus whale" accept that.... I also had a 98 max that did not give me any trouble. Loved that car.

 

Same issue here. Unfortunately.

Power steering pressure hose is leaking right up behind the strut housing. Any idea where to get the part for a good price? Nissan here in Nashville wants 200 bucks.

 

That seems to be the going price for it. I, begrudgingly bought mine for $194 and then put it in myself. I don't know which was worse. The price or the labor.

 

http://www.courtesyparts.com/ $160